Vaginal irrigating appliance



Jan. 26, 1937. J. A. KIRK 'VAGINAL IRRIGATING APPLIJIXNCE Filed March 16, 1934 Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

I have invented new and useful improvements applicable for vaginal irrigation and medication in connection with the treatment of uterine disorders and ailments in the science of gynecology, but also for home use, Where such an appliance is needed. The invention aims to provide a device of this character that consists of a minimum number of parts, which may be readily and easily assembled and as easily detachable, resistant to prolonged hard usage, not easily broken, yet easily cleaned and put into an aseptic condition, simple in construction, economical to manufacture, yet effective in use and possessing such further advantages as will be better apparent from the description and diagrams herein contained. The invention embodies also improvemen'ts involving important simplification of vulvular and intra-vaginal medication and irrigation, permitting a sitting or standing position of the user or patient while effectively retaining the fluid in the vaginal tract.

Heretofore, because (1) of the character and form of douches in common use which comprise a jet nozzle or balloon spray device inserted directly into the vagina, and (2) because of the peculiar nature of the vulva and vaginal tract, the same having numerous folds and lobes of tissue adhering to each other, as well as many minute recesses and irregular surfaces which cannot be medicated or irrigated except by prolonged flooding of the same, great difiiculty has been experienced in securing an effective and complete medication of those parts. Only when the patient or user was in such a lying-down position as to permit the vaginal walls of themselves to serve in holding the medication could a satisfactory irrigation be effected. Such a position required the use of bed-pans or other utensils, or else demanded that the user or patient lie on her back in a bath-tub to effect a position necessary for prolonged vaginal irrigation. Or, if the user or patient employed a device, part of which constituted a wedge-plug intending to close the portal of the vagina, thereby intending to hold the fluid inside the tract, great discomfort or pain was experienced because: in requiring enough pressure of the plug against sensitive and irritated membrane to constitute an eflective stopper the delicate membrane was drawn in as the plug was inserted 'and, the delicate membranes being usually irritated or inflamed in advance, despite that condition were required to carry in addition the brunt and weight of the burden of the Wedge-plug besides the weight of the fluid, making the device ineffective in such cases for the purposes intended. Furthermore, the wedge-plug makes the medication and irrigation of every part of the vulva and vagina impossible, because the plug itself prevents the fluid from reaching the tissue adjacent thereto by virtue of the pressure required to hold the wedge in place to achieve the intended stoppage of the fluid. Also, it being obvious that the width of the bone-aperture and the shape and size of vaginal portals vary so greatly that large numbers of sizes and shapes of Wedge plugs would be required to meet the general need.

All such difficulties are overcome in the present invention, by the use of which the fluid is retained in the vagina for prolonged medication or irrigation, as described herein, when the user is in a sitting position, without discomfort to the patient or user, because the principal member of the appliance embodying the present invention is held by suitable pressure against the portion of the body of the patient or user which it is designed to serve, external to the body and shaped to fit the configuration of that part of the perineum around. the ,vulva, the principal member of the device surrounding the same and doming it, thus retaining the fluid in the vaginal tract and the adjacent area, it being apparent that the external part of the body in the said area is much more sturdy and better able to bear the additional burden thus placed upon it. By the device and method thus described a complete flow and circulation of the fluid is accomplished. Moreover, when the fluid rises in the vagina a flotation of all the lobes and other flexible tissue is accomplished, furnishing complete medication or irrigation of every part of the vagina and vulva, it being a well-known fact that unless the vulva is kept unobstructed and the portal ,to the vagina and every part thereof open, the

very purposes of vaginal medication and irrigation are defeated.

Thus it isshown that the device purposes to be useful (1) for the application of medicines directly to the afllicted parts in the treatment of various vaginal and uterine disorders; (2) for various uses of medical and surgical drainage and irrigation; and (3) it embodies the various advantages of the direct application of heated fluid or chilled fluid to the parts requiring the same, and particularly because the appliance is designed to be made of materials not affected by such uses; and (4) because of the form and character of the appliance when the same is placed long-wise over the cunnus or vulva, surrounding and doming the area including the labia majora, and held in proper position so that its cushionedges rest snugly against that portion of the female perineum lying more particularly between the thighs and from anus to clitoris and embracing the labia majora, the fluid being held inside the vagina, completely flooding the same, the medication is applied directly to all the parts and tissue requiring the same. Thus a virtually fluid-tight barrier is established external to .the body for the complete intra-vaginal medication or irrigation which the appliance designsto accomplish.

In the diagrams accompanying this application which illustrate a medical and surgical appliance embodying my present invention as described herein, like characters of reference denote accompanying parts in related views: Figure l is a cross-section-perspective view illustrating the general position of the devicewhen in use, with the main parts of the female organs which the appliance designs to serve, dotted in; Figure 2 is a three-fourths side-view of the principal member of the device describing the form and character of its parts and the related position of its accessories. The cut-away section exposes the inlet port of the device, including the two nibs to which hose are attached; Figure 3 is also a three-fourths side view of the principal member, describing the form and character of its parts and the related position of its accessories identical with Figure 2 except that Figure 3 omits the hose nibs referred to above, on the floor of the principal member and pictures instead of the nibs an opening or inlet port in place of the tube-nibs through which opening a flexible hose can be passed leading to the irrigating terminal 8 at one end and to the fluid source at the other end; Figure 4 is a top view, looking down into the pan or principal member of the appliance; Figure 5 is a cross-section view of the principal member and its detachable cushion peripheral describing in particular how the cushion peripheral is constructed and designed the same having a double-edge cushion which is designed to contact that part of the perineum which the device intends to serve. A double-edge cushion is provided in order the more efiectively to seal the vulva and vagina and their adjacent parts and to prevent seepage of the fluid.

' It is the purpose of the present invention to provide? (1) a highly sanitary gynecological appliance of the form and character herein described and specified and suitable for the purposes set forth; (2) a device which is simple in form and construction, at once light in weight, strong and durable, yet free from sharp angles or points that might injure the delicate parts of the body to which the device might be applied in use, yet one whose necessary crevices are of such form and character as to be easily cleaned; (3) a device for vaginal irrigation by simple manipulation and which can be readily placed by a physician, but which can also be easily placed by the patient or user for self-applicationthrough which the efficiency of the device may be greatly increased; a device of such form and character as tofacilitate its sterilization and aseptic cleaning; (4) an appliance, whose principal member has sufficient rigidity and sturdiness to endure hard prolonged usage, the same provided with a soft cushion annulus, substantially complemental in configuration to that of the perineum so as to fit against the external surface of the same intimately and aid in the purpose to effectively inclose all parts of the perineum and vagina for the process of medication and irrigation; (5) a device Whose irrigating terminal is so mounted as to permit insertion into the vagina for the medication and irrigation of the same Without discomfort or injury to the patient; (6) a device of such form and character as will not cause irritation, discomfort, or injury to the delicate membrane of the region for which it is intended or with which it may come in contact.

In general the device comprises a principal member l3 of rigid material, concave and elliptical, having rounded ends and base and possessing a boss or enlarged circumferential rim, the same being an intimate part of the principal member and designed to form a supporting shoulder over which a cushion annulus fits as described herein, the said cushion annular being made of suitable yielding material such as cushion rubber .or other cushion material, the same being made to match the configuration of the supporting shoulder of the principal member on which it rests and to which it is attached. The annulus as indicated in the accompanying diagram is furthermore so furrowed or apertured on the side, (6 and T), which contacts with the body of the user so as to form two parallel pliable cushion edges substantially complemental in configuration tothe configuration of that portion of the body of the user or patient which the device purposes to serve and is so designed that when held against that portion of the body of the patient or user which it intends to serve it effects a double-edge fluid-tight barrier of such form and character as to fit the perineum surface of the body of the patient'cr user intimately and thus aid in the purpose of the device to effectively inclose all parts of the vulva and vagina and hold the fluid in the channel, thus exposing the same j to the process of prolonged medication and irrigation. a

The device comprises twoopenings in the floor of its principal member, an inlet port and an outlet port, the same being numbered 9 and [0 respectively in the accompanying diagram, Figure 4. The inlet port may be so constructed that its tubular nibs which form an intimate part of the principal mlember can be furnished with a flexible tube, one end of the same leading from the source of fluid supply, which may be a douche bag or other container, and the flow controlled by'a check mounted onthe conducting tube; the other end leading to a detachable hollow or'tubular irrigating member or terminal 8, hereinafter described; If pressure is required to enhance the fiow of fluid a pressure bulb can be attached to the conducting tube. The other opening, in, in the floor of the principal member is designed to serve as an outlet in case the same should be deemed necessary. I This port is obviously superfluous in most cases because the fluid can be educted by releasing the lower end of the principal member of the device. Nevertheless the opening is embodied in the scope and diagram of my invention and may be fitted with a singleturn threaded cap to; serve cases in which slow drainage may be desirable during prolonged irrigation. In any case the out-flow of liquid may be controlled and the stoppage of the flow effected by covering the opening with a finger or sealing the same with a cork or other stopper.

Figure 3 is included in the description of my invention, to portray the possibility of manufacturing the principal member thereof without the tube nibs and serving their purpose by inserting a flexible tube of proper size furnished with a rubber gasket to insure snugness of fit, through the inlet port, all other description of the same being identical with that of Figure 2.

The irrigating member or terminal 8, not claimed in this invention, is designed to be made of flexible rubber, or other flexible material, the same tapering toward its expelling end, containing a plurality of outlets through which the fluid is delivered to the vagina and the surrounding area, the irrigating member being of such form and character and so mounted as to serve as a means for spreading the walls of the vagina apart, but also able to accomplish a. comfortable association with the vaginal tract when inserted therein and to provide an ample flow of fluid for complete medication and irrigation of the same as well as toaccomplish the effective circulation of the treating fluid within the adjacent inclossure.

From the foregoing it will be apparent how the described appliance accompilshes the stated purposes and objects thereof, one prominent advantage being that the device can be manipulated by the user in privacy without requiring the services of a physician or other person.

While I have herein described and illustrated certain specific embodiments of my invention it is manifest that the detailed features thereof may be variously modified without involving any departure from the principle, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, hence I do not limit my invention tothe specific form shown and described, but reserve all such variations and modifications thereof as fall within the spirit and purview of the appended claims.

I am aware that prior to my invention vaginal douches have been made, but a comprehensive and painstaking search having been made only a few days ago of the records of the United States Patent Office and no record of a patent describing an appliance such as mine having been found, nor any of the improvements embodied in my appliance,

I claim:

1. A vaginal irrigating appliance comprising, a cup shaped member formed of rigid non-metallic material, said member being elongated in a direction parallel to its base, which base portion is provided with fluid inlet and outlet openings therein, and a resilient cushion annulus of uniform cross section having a pair of concentric cushion edges molded integrally therewith, said annulus being secured around the rim of said cup shaped member so as to project outwardly therefrom, said rim having a contour such that it substantially fits the users body around the vagina, said pair of parallel edges being spaced from each other so that an annular chamber is formed between said edges and said rim and the users body, and said cushion edges being secured to said rim in such manner that pressure of said cup member towards the vagina tends to compress both of said cushion edges.

2. A vaginal irrigating appliance comprising, a cup shaped member formed of relatively hard rubber, said member being elongated in a direction parallel to its base, so as to substantially fit the users body around the vagina, and said base having an opening therein adapted to receive an irrigating member therethrough, the rim of said cup shaped member terminating in a flat shoulder which extends substantially parallel to said base, and a resilient cushion annulus secured to said shoulder, said annulus having a pair of concentric cushion edges projecting outwardly therefrom in the direction in which said rim extends, said cushion edges being spaced from each other so that an annular chamber is formed between edges, said shoulder applying a compressive force on both of said edges when the cup shaped member is pressed against the users bod y JOHN ANDREW KIRK. 

